One fifth of households in Northern Ireland experienced a crime last year, according to the latest figures.

Young men aged 16-24 were the most likely victims of violent crime with women aged 75 and over the least likely victims in the year up to August 2001.

Figures also show that 'non-Troubles' levels of crime remain lower than those experienced in England and Wales.

The figures are contained in a bulletin based on a 2001 victims of crime survey which was released by the Northern Ireland Office on Friday.

More than 3,000 adults aged 16 and over were interviewed about crimes against either themselves or household members between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2001.

Key findings

Some 19.7% of Northern Ireland households experienced a crime during that period, three-quarters of the rate in England and Wales during 2000 (26.8%).

For most property offences, Northern Ireland's victimisation rates during 2000/01 were lower than in England and Wales during 2000. However, the rates for violent offences were similar.

Between 1997 and 2000/01, vehicle-related theft decreased from 8.7% to 6.5% of households. When vandalism is included, however, a tenth (10.6%) of such households were victims of a vehicle-related crime during 2000/01.

During 2000/01, the risk of becoming a victim of a crime was higher in Belfast (28%) than in east (21%) or west (14%) Northern Ireland.

Between 1997 and 2000/01, the risk of a Belfast household becoming a victim of vehicle vandalism increased from 5.7% to 9.6%.

Burglary was most likely to affect homes where the heads of household were aged 16-24 (6.3%). Those with a head of household aged 65-74 had the lowest burglary victimisation rate (0.9%).

Vehicle-related thefts were also more likely to affect households owning three or more vehicles (15.0%).

Young men aged 16-24 were the most likely victims of violent crime in Northern Ireland during 2000/01 (16.6%). Those least likely to be victims were women aged 75 and over (below 0.1%).